I am cleaning up a bit as I get ready to head home for the holidays.

I am making my way through a pile of papers, old scripts, and tapes on my desk,
and found a letter or two that needed to be answered.

I am sorry I didn't get to them until now. It's been a busy few weeks.

It has been quite a year here at Newschannel 8 and in Oregon.
We finished this year with a whirlwind of news from a November to remember in the weather, and the San Francisco family missing in Southern Oregon, to the terrible wind storm in December, and the missing climbers on Mt. Hood.

A viewer wrote me and said these stories remind us to hold on to what is dear to us.
To tell those close to us how much we love them.

To cherish the quiet moments this season.

To appreciate the beauty of our growing children.

The smell of baking Christmas cookies.

The sound of the beautiful Christmas Carol,"O Holy Night", my friend, Jim, sings at our church every Christmas Eve.

The warmth of our fireplace next to the twinkling Christmas tree.

I wish you the peace of the season.

I am going home to bake Christmas cookies with my children.

Thank you for being part of our Newschannel 8 family.

I look forward to the privledge of bringing you the news in 2007.

Merry Christmas,

Laural

Posted by at 3:39 PM | Permalink

My neighbor, Larry, knocked on the door today looking for his Grandson who was visiting with my son, Will.
We chatted about the tragic events of the last two weeks, the lost San Francisco family and death of James Kim, immediately followed by the search for three missing climbers.

Larry asked me, "Do you ever cry"?

Searchers found James Kim's body on December 6th, my birthday.
A pall fell over the newsroom. We all had hoped and prayed, as the rest of the nation had, that there would be a miracle.

The news had been optimistic on the morning of the 6th. James Kim had been found. Condition unknown.
My spirits had lifted. A miracle on my birthday, I thought.
It was not to be.
By noon, the news turned tragic.
The newsroom grew quiet. We mourned with everyone else who followed the search for the Kims.

On my way home, a barista at Starbucks told me she cried when she heard the news.

That night, on a day I had awakened to with great expectations, I laid on the couch and cried,too.

On that same day, 10 U-S soldiers died in Iraq. Their deaths didn't get as much notice in the headlines with the drama of searching for the Kim family.
I mourn them,too and pray for their families.

Also, on December 6th, though we didn't know it at the time; three climbers set off on what they intended to be a two night climb on Mt. Hood.
The Oregonian reported that a newspaper left behind in their rental car was left open to the story of the search for the James Kim family.

On Sunday, December 17th,we learned one of the climber's, Kelly James, was found dead in a snow cave just below the summit.
The whereabouts of his climbing companions still unknown.

It was our day off, but Joe Donlon, Tracy Barry, and I came in to help report the story.
For the second year in a row, I missed my friend, Gerri's holiday dinner party, because of breaking news.
I am sorry I missed her party. But it's a very small sacrifice, I remind myself, given the gravity of the story, and the losses other families are bearing.

Also, on that day, three more U-S soldiers died in Iraq.
I want to always remember, that as we follow these dramatic stories here at home,
American families are nearly daily losing loved ones fighting for their country.

Yes, Larry, I do cry.

Laural Porter

Posted by at 4:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Newschannel 8 Great Toy Drive is in its final week and our Toy Box is filling up.
However, we have still have floor space for more toys.

It's hard to believe, but the need is so great this year that we need to fill our sprawling Studio A up from wall-to-wall, and floor-to-ceiling to help as many area boys and girls as we can.

Here's a final weekend chance to join the tremendous community effort to make the holidays happy for all our local children.

We'll be out collecting this Saturday, December 16th, from 7am until 3pm at the Lancaster Mall in Salem.
The mall is located at 831 Lancaster Drive in Northeast Salem.

I'll be there with my son,Will, again early in the morning.
I hope to see you there.

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far.

I feel like a kid in a toybox when I walk into Studio A this time of year.
Yes, it's fun to look at all those toys, but the real joy comes from feeling the wonderful caring,compassion and generosity of our community.

Thank you for sharing your treasures with those in need.
We're collecting toys through December 19th.

Merry Christmas,

Laural

Posted by at 3:30 PM | Permalink